Foolproof Paint Colors That Will Sell Your Home

Find out the best interior and exterior paint colors to sell your home.

December 09, 2020
Mixed Metal And Warm Wood Front Porch On Modern Farmhouse

Modern Black And White Farmhouse Entrance

Natural stone steps lead to the entrance of this modern, Texas farmhouse. White exterior siding and natural wooden columns give the front porch a classic vibe paired with modern black metal trim, dark rocking chairs and a metal and glass front door.

Photo by: Grace Laird Photography

Grace Laird Photography

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Selling a home with an electric, lime-green living room is going to be more difficult than you originally anticipated. In fact, your home might sit stagnant on the market for quite some time. The reality is that paint color packs a serious punch in the real estate game.

So, which colors are going to sell your home?

Fixr, a home remodeling guide and contractor liaison website, surveyed 200 leading interior design experts and influencers to uncover the upcoming paint trends for owners to keep in mind before selling their home. We’re armed with Fixr's Paint & Color Trends Report and ready to dish on the hues to use and hues to lose before putting your house on the market. (Hint: Lime green didn’t make the list.)

The Kitchen: White or Warm Gray

Double Islands and Pendant Lights in Big Transitional Kitchen

Transitional Kitchen With Double Islands

Exposed oak ceiling beams frame the view of this spacious, transitional kitchen. Perfect for entertaining, two gray and white islands offer lots of seating and storage options, both beneath double pendant lights with pearl shell accents.

Photo by: Spacecrafting

Spacecrafting

Fixr reports that design pros believe that warm gray or classic white tones are best for painting interior rooms like the kitchen. Some of our favorite white and warm gray paint colors to check out for your kitchen include Revere Pewter and Simply White by Benjamin Moore or Pure White and Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams.

The Living Room: White

White Living Room With Wood Coffee Table

White Living Room With Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table

Natural wood accents give depth and warmth to the cool palette of this living room. The walls are shiplap paneling painted white.

Photo by: Julie Soefer Photography

Julie Soefer Photography

When in doubt, white it out. Fixr’s surveyed pros believe white paint will sell your home because not only does it provide future buyers with a blank slate, but it gives living rooms a fresh, well-kept appearance that appeals to the masses. Our tried-and-true white paint colors include Snowbound or Greek Villa from Sherwin Williams or White Dove and Chantilly Lace from Benjamin Moore.

The Bedroom: White or Taupe

Master Bedroom With Canopy Bed

Neutral Traditional Master Bedroom With Canopy Bed

Gently arched ceilings in the master bedroom suite are finished in shiplap paneling. The slim canopy bed gets treated to hand-embroidered Leontine linens from Tribute Goods. Antique doors connect the bedroom to the adjacent spa bathroom with a soaking tub and steam shower.

Photo by: Julie Soefer Photography

Julie Soefer Photography

The report reveals that design pros agree that airy white or soft taupe paint is a winning option for a best-selling bedroom. Paints to sample for your boudoir include All White from Farrow & Ball or Behr's Creamy Mushroom.

The Bathroom: Pale Blue

White Bathroom With Gray Vanity

White Double Vanity Bathroom With Gray Vanity

The style in this bathroom is simple and lovely: The vanity gets a coat of blue-gray paint that softens the crisp angles in the black-and-white floor. For the walls, subway tiles look fresh and clean.

Photo by: Lauren Rubin Architecture

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Fresh, clean and soothing – Fixr reports pros believe pale blue is the best-selling hue for small spaces like the washroom or laundry room. Coat your compact space with the paint color Skylight from Farrow & Ball or try the equally striking shade Moonmist by Sherwin Williams.

The Exterior: White or Gray

English Cottage Home and Front Yard

Charming English Cottage Home

Simple manicured landscaping welcomes guests to this quaint English cottage home. The open porch is an inviting spot to sit and enjoy outdoors. A rustic arched wooden door centers the home, while black trimmed windows create a stylish contrast against the white exterior.

Photo by: JEAN STOFFER

JEAN STOFFER

White and gray garage doors and mixed-texture exterior

Garage door by Amarr

White and gray garage doors and mixed-texture exterior

Photo by: Amarr

Amarr

First impressions are everything and Fixr’s design pros agree that fresh white or gray exteriors will win the hearts of homebuyers this year. Not sure if gray or white is the best fit for your home’s façade? Choose a neutral paint color (think: greige, beige or taupe) that complements surrounding homes in your neighborhood and is in keeping with the architectural style of your home. Our top exterior paint colors include Extra White, Shoji White or Alabaster from Sherwin Williams and Cedar Key and Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore.

Overall: Put It in Neutral

transitional dining room

Welcoming, Wood-Infused Dining Room

For more formal affairs, the owners and their guests can move into the dining area. Here, an elongated table and dark wood chairs complement the room's more rustic details, while lanterns illuminate the space into the evening.

Photo by: Julie Soefer Photography

Julie Soefer Photography

When asked what interior color palette will be most popular this year, 57% of Fixr's surveyed design experts agree that cool neutral tones will remain the go-to hues in the coming year. White, gray, beige and taupe tones are favorites for designers and homeowners alike because they work overtime to visually enlarge small spaces and brighten shadowy rooms. Neutral hues also enable potential buyers better visualize themselves living in the home.

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